REED Leather HIDES - Cow Skins 40 Square Foot Orange - Durable Craft

In this review of the REED Leather HIDES Cow Skins (40 square foot, orange) the bottom line is clear: this is a practical, workmanlike hide for crafters who need consistent, soft genuine cow leather at an affordable size. The reviewer found the hides to be uniformly tanned with a glove-like softness and a reliable thickness that suits a wide range of leathercraft projects, so hobbyists and small-scale makers will appreciate the balance of durability and suppleness. The video content included with the product also helps set expectations during unpacking and setup.

Key Features

• 100% Genuine Cow Leather: Offers a natural, durable surface that holds up well for accessories and repairs while remaining pleasant to handle.
• Thick and Heavy Construction: Approximately 0.8 - 1.2 mm thickness provides structure for wallets, cases, and book covers without being overly stiff.
• Multi-Use Material: Works for a variety of projects from purse panels to bookbinding edges, so crafters can reuse the hide across multiple items.
• Consistent Color and Finish: Chrome-finished tanning delivers even color across the hide, making matched cuts simpler for visible panels.
• 40 Square Foot Size: Provides a substantial working area for larger patterns or multiple small projects, reducing the need to join pieces.

Who It's For

The REED cowhide is aimed at leatherworkers, hobbyists, and small makers who want a mid-weight, chrome-finished leather that is easy to stitch, cut, and glue. It is especially useful when projects demand consistent color and a soft, supple hand while still keeping enough thickness to maintain shape on bags, cases, and book covers.

Those who need vegetable-tanned leather for tooling, veg-tan edge finishing, or very thick harness leather should look elsewhere; this hide is chrome finished and best suited to sewn goods, linings, and decorative panels rather than heavy saddle or tooling work.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Good leather quality with a soft, glove-like texture that is easy to work with for stitching and trimming.
• Consistent color and thickness make pattern matching and repeat projects more predictable.
• Thickness around 0.8 - 1.2 mm gives useful structure for bags, covers, and accessories while remaining pliable.

Cons

• Size feedback is mixed among customers, so actual usable pieces may vary from expectations for very large patterns.

Specifications

Our Verdict

The REED Cow Skins 40 sq ft orange hide is a solid choice for crafters who want a reliable, soft chrome-finished leather that works across bags, cases, bookbinding, and small repairs. It delivers good value and consistent color and thickness for most sewn and accessory projects, though those requiring veg-tan characteristics or very precise large-size cuts should confirm measurements before purchase.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this leather suitable for making bags and purses?
Yes, the 0.8 - 1.2 mm thickness and soft hand make it well suited for purses and bags that require pliable yet supportive panels.

Can this hide be used for tooling or carving?
No, the hide is chrome finished and not ideal for traditional veg-tan tooling or deep carving work.

Does the color and thickness vary across hides?
Customers report generally consistent color and thickness, though size and usable layout can vary so plan patterns accordingly.